Television archivist organisation Kaleidoscope has published a list of the top 100 most wanted missing TV programmes.

The Birmingham-based company works with the BBC, ITV, the BFI and others to search for, identify, digitise and restore episodes that are otherwise "missing believed wiped". The phenomenon largely affects television produced in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, when there were only limited opportunities for repeats, and - before the home market of VHS, DVD or download - no further commercial opportunities foreseen in keeping and expanding archives of then extremely expensive video tape.

A number of earlier programmes, such as Hancock's Half Hour, were never recorded at all, but broadcast live.

Curated by Ray Langstone, the new list includes some 24 comedy titles, plus further comic-entertainment formats. The comedy titles, plus counts of how many episodes are missing out of all those produced, are indicated below.

Some entries on the list may raise eyebrows, as episodes do exist in part. Every missing episode of Till Death Us Do Part, for example, exists as an audio soundtrack recording, as do a number of editions of Hancock's Half Hour.

Other episodes are also known to be held in the hands of private collectors who have thus far refused to loan or return them to either the BFI or the original broadcaster.

Surprising omissions from the top 100 include missing editions of The Morecambe & Wise Show, whilst other known missing programmes include comedy and variety series broadcast as recently as the 1990s by early satellite TV network BSB. It is hoped that some of these may yet exist on VHS.

Other notable comic inclusions in Kaleidoscope's list include LWT coverage of the first Moon landings David Frost's Moon Party, which featured serious discussion, sketches and entertainment; numerous light-entertainment variety series hosted by the likes of Lulu, Cliff Richard and Cilla Black; talent contest Opportunity Knocks; and childrens' series Tiswas.

The top three most-wanted programmes were named as The Avengers, Top Of The Pops, and Doctor Who.

Anyone who believes they may have a missing episode, in whole or in part, is asked to please contact Kaleidoscope (info@tvbrain.info) or Dick Fiddy at the BFI.